(I love Galaxy's uniforms. They're snazzy and cool and James Coburn looks great in one.)
Our Man Flint is a spy movie that parodies the Bond films. A trio of scientists threaten the world by controlling the weather. Lee J. Cobb plays Cramden, the head of ZOWIE (Zonal Organization for World Intelligence and Espionage). His other agents have failed to stop the scientists, and so he must reluctantly call on super duper super spy Flint. He's not fond of Flint. Flint doesn't follow orders. Flint is not a team player. Flint is constantly showing him up. But, he is the best spy on the planet, and the world needs the best spy to save the day...
Flint tracks down the bad guys, of course, to their very strange volcanic island lair. Where he proceeds to single-handedly wreck the entire joint and save the world (without ever using a gun... shooting people is not Flint's style). This is not a spoiler. He's Flint! Of course he will prevail. In style. That's what makes this movie so much fun.
(Galaxy's crazy island)
When you also grow up on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Flint fits right in. Both are Fox, both use many of the same sets, footage, and crazy science fictiony plot. If no one's written a cross-over fanfic, I'd be surprised, as they all seem to inhabit the same version of the world.
Favorite things about this movie:
Any time Flint speaks in his own special code. "It's based on..." "I can imagine what it's based on..."
Flint's special lighter gadget, with 82 functions. 83 if you wish to light a cigar.
"It disappeared into thin air."
Flint napping (by stopping his heart) while stretched out plank-like, feet on one chair, head on another. And his watch alarm. Dude, I want one of those.
The red presidential phone and its famous ring.
Agent 0008.
Lee J. Cobb's constant, immense frustration with the Perfection that is Flint.
The fight between Rodney (Edward Mulhare) and Flint.
(Edward Mulhare and Scientist Bad Guys)
Barrels and the swan dive. I think this may have been the part I waited for most when I was young. Sheer awesomeness.
"Stall! Flint is alive!"
The anti-American eagle. "It's diabolical!"
Jerry Goldsmith's outstanding, swinging score.
My favorite scene goes along with my favorite cue, which kicks in when Flint starts climbing the multi-level outdoor ladder. And goes up and up and up. Although really, I adore the entire ending, from when he escapes execution to when he escapes the island. He trashes the place, evades bad guys, fights bad guys, wrecks things, blows things up, and rescues his girls, and it's just great, cheesy, actiony, stylish fun.
Yes, he has girls. Four of them. He takes them all out to dinner, dances with all of them, pays attention to all of them... None of them are jealous. However, every other male in the movie is clearly envious. It's quite amusing.
(Flint and his beautiful companions, with Gila Golan as Gila)
There is a sequel, In Like Flint, that is also amusing, but not quite as much fun as the first one.
9 comments:
So I believe this is on Amazon, not free, but not expensive. I could save up some rewards to make it free, and then... we could watch together?
(No, I didn't pull your blog up to admire the header this morning, and go, "OH! New post!" Not at all, nosirree.)
It's also on youtube for free...
And no, of course not, you would do nothing of the sort.
I want to watch this! James Coburn is my favorite actor, and this movie looks like a LOT of fun. Sort of like Get Smart (the old TV show, not the modern movie)?
It's been so many years since I watched any Get Smart episodes, I can't remember them! But yes, probably. Silly crazy impossible spy stuff.
This was the movie I fell in love with James Coburn in, myself. He's just so smooth and cool.
Yep, that sounds like Get Smart. :)
The first thing I saw Coburn in was the Combat! episode, "Masquerade", but it wasn't until I watched Hell Is For Heroes, Mag7, and The Great Escape (all in one day, too!) that I really fell in love with him. Besides those three movies, he seems to play villains in *everything*, so it'd be neat to see him in another good guy role.
I have the red-phone ring as my ringtone, since like 2001.
That is awesome! It really is a great ring. Thanks for stopping by.
He's the wrong man for the job. Ah. Yes Sir.
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